ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Rock Hill School Board approved a new budget Thursday which included a pay raise for the district's teachers.
Beginning Rock Hill Schools teachers will now have a starting pay of $52,000 a year, which is an increase of $8,259. This pay raise only impacts classroom teachers and not support staff. The increase will go into effect in the fall of 2024 and will be the highest in York County, according to school officials.
“We knew this was an issue. This is not a secret that people are pushing for higher teacher salaries across the nation. We wanted to make sure we were taking a step in the right direction to show appreciation for valued teachers," said Lindsay Machak, the public information officer for the district.
Before this new budget was approved, a starting teacher in Rock Hill made around $43,000. School officials maintain this pay raise will not increase taxes.
Jacquel Thomas, a seasoned teacher in the district, says with the "out-of-pocket costs" that add up to hundreds of dollars annually, this raise will help keep teachers.
“We want teachers that can focus on teaching and not have to work two to three jobs to make ends meet," Thomas said.
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The new starting salary skyrockets Rock Hill teacher pay above nearby districts, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools which has starting teachers at a salary of just over $48,000. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education unanimously approved its new budget for the upcoming school year at the beginning of May.
The $2 billion budget included money for school maintenance, new technology for students and pay increases for teachers and staff. Of that $2 billion, $14 million went toward teacher pay, increasing CMS teacher salaries by 4.5%, however, some people say that's not enough to cover the cost of living in Charlotte.
Rock Hill teachers aren't the only ones reaping the benefits of the raise. The approved budget includes a salary increase of 2.25% for bus drivers and other raises for security officers and school resources officers.
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